Inhibitory effects of Nigella sativa seed oil on the testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Arezo Sadeghimanesh, Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IranFollow
Sajedeh Gholipour, Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IranFollow
akram torki, Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IranFollow
hossein Amini-khoei, Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IranFollow
zahra lorigooini, Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IranFollow
Solomon Habtemariam, Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories and Herbal Analysis Services UK, University of Greenwich, Chatham-Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.Follow

Abstract

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most prevalent disease of the prostate in elderly men. Since Nigella sativa has been reported to show various pharmacological effects, this study was conducted to examine the effect of N. sativa seed oil on experimental BPH.

Methods: The oil was extracted using the cold-pressing method. Fifty rats were divided into five groups of 10 each as follows: Group 1 orally (p.o.) received normal saline; groups 2-5 were castrated and subcutaneously received 5 mg/kg testosterone propionate for four weeks. Group 2, namely, BPH model, underwent no further treatment, Groups 3 and 4 were treated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg N. sativa seed oil, Group 5 received finasteride (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days. All groups received repeated testosterone injections for the following four weeks after BPH induction. After the treatments, rats were sacrificed and the prostate tissues removed. Wet weight, prostatic volume (PV) and prostatic index (PI) were determined. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant levels were determined.

Results: Our results showed that oral treatment with 400 and 800 mg/kg N. sativa oil led to a significant decrease in PI, PV, DHT concentration, PSA, and serum MDA level, and also significantly increased serum antioxidant capacity.

Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the oil seed exerted anti-BPH effects which may be associated with its antioxidant properties in vivo.

Recommended Citation

Sadeghimanesh, Arezo; Gholipour, Sajedeh; torki, akram; Amini-khoei, hossein; lorigooini, zahra; and Habtemariam, Solomon (2021) "Inhibitory effects of Nigella sativa seed oil on the testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats," BioMedicine: Vol. 11 : Iss. 1 , Article 2.
DOI: 10.37796/2211-8039.1083